Denial, Chapter 16; Racing Against the Sun
Title: Denial, Chapter 16; Racing Against the Sun
Author: darkentwisted
Characters/Pairings: Robin/Much, Stranger
Rating: PG
Genre: Angst, Hint of slash.
Words: 1,689
Disclaimer: BBC & TA own; we just want to play in their universe
Notes: This continues the 'Round-Robin' fic 'Denial' and is set during "Walkabout"
Betaed by the incredible robinfanatic and wastingyourgum.
Summary: Robin's imagination works overtime as he races to find the sheriff.
Previous Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
Racing Against the Sun
by
darkentwisted
"Oh, it's good this. You and me back on a mission." Much kept up the brisk pace behind his master cheerily, "I mean, no offence against the others, but ahh, it's like the good old days, back in the Holy Land."
"Except we're not together!" Robin yelled without looking back. "You left with Carter a month ago. You're just a figment of my imagination."
Much paused in surprised shock. "A smaller man would be hurt," the former servant sputtered. "A lesser man would be wounded."
"And a ghost should know when to shut up!" Robin spat angrily. He had gotten used to the fact he was seeing his friend in his dreams but now seeing him while wide awake was worrisome. He didn't need this, not now that the sheriff was at large and Nottingham was about to be laid to the torch. "Look...these shoes. They were definitely made by the sheriff's smithy weren't they?"
"Yeah it's him." Much's ghost pondered, "Master you know that ring, the one Marian gave you, is it a new code?"
Robin bristled at the words. Not this, not now, even though he knew it was all in his head, he answered anyway. "No. I gave it to her when we were up in the tree."
The imaginary man laughed. "What? You...giving jewelry, that must have surprised her." Much caught up with Robin and face him with a forced smile. His glistening eyes already revealed what his heart suspected. "She probably thought you were going to propose."
"Yeah, I did..." Robin stated flatly, watching his friend's face turn serious. "And she said yes." The silence from even this pretend version of Much staring at him, too overwhelmed with emotion to speak, was stifling. He stammered, "Well this is when you were supposed to say congratula..." He dissolved into a chuckle as surprisingly warm and real arms embraced him.
"Congratulations," Much said, as he clutched his former master. They held each other for minutes, neither wanting to let go of the impossible moment between them. The ghost pushed Robin back at arm's length and wagged a finger at him. "She said yes?"
Robin nodded frowning slightly at the look on his friend's face. "Yes she did."
Much's expression became almost one of sadness. "That's incredible."
"Only if we live to enjoy it."
"I'm not just a figment of your imagination, Master," Much pouted, searching his friend's eyes. "And even if I am, I still care about you."
Robin smiled and turned back to his mission. "I know you do. You don't know how much I've missed you." He laughed. "How much we've missed you. Now come on. He went this way. Come..." The archer turned around and found himself alone. He shook his head and continued down the path.
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Robin had a brief respite from the thoughts of his friend, until he heard Much speak again.
"You know I was gettin' used to it, life as an heroic outlaw. Now Carter, the king and I will probably come back as heroes. You and Marian will be married, living in some grand old mansion. I just..."
"Well, well, well," Robin said mostly to himself, trying to ignore the voice in his head. Usually, he would have merely found Much's rambling comfortably annoying but tuning out someone who really wasn't there proved to be a bother. He looked up behind his shoulder. Sure enough his former servant's confused expression greeted him. "Look at these marks. They carry on this way. Come on." Robin started off again but turned to see the ghost of his friend looking incredulously at him. "Well?"
"Well, it's all gonna end! When I return there will be no gang, no 'us'."
Robin sighed and pointed at the sky angrily, "Tell it to the sun, Much! Look! It's racing across the sky and if we don't find the sheriff before sundown, everything will end! Me, Marian, our friends, there will be nothing left but scorched earth!" He glared at the imaginary man. "Is that the homecoming you want when you return from The Holy Land?"
Much's ghost shook his head sadly and they continued on.
Robin broke into a full run now trying to escape his overactive imagination almost as desperately as he was trying to find the sheriff. "Where is he going!" he muttered out loud.
Much continued incessantly in his head, "You know I was thinking, I might stay here when I return. I mean what with you Marian and..well you know."
"Much...look! I think we're gaining on him. These are fresh footprints," Robin said breathlessly, ignoring the imaginary man's rant.
I could be a lone outlaw, 'The Sherwood Avenger' and Carter could be my sidekick." Much mused, "I would like that, me having a sidekick for once."
"Much, come here!" Robin said, forgetting his friend wasn't real. He pulled an arrow and loaded his bow, aiming it at a figure in black silk pyjamas.
"Yes! Only one man in Nottingham has on clothes like that. Oi!" the ghost called out to the strange man.
To Robin's surprise, the man responded by looking up at him. It wasn't the sheriff. "I don't believe it!" the archer turned and said to thin air. He remembered himself and spat angrily at the stranger, "Where did you get those clothes?"
"I traded them, fair and square for some good rags," the homeless man reasoned.
"You traded rags for silk pyjamas?" Imaginary Much started again. "I don't think so." Robin must have repeated the words out loud, as the man answered back.
"It's true. He was a little man, ugly. Said my rags would help him find important papers in the forest."
Much stared at the strange man. "Papers...?"
Robin turned to his imaginary friend. "That's The Pact! Come on!" He ran back toward camp.
The man watched sadly as the outlaw leader held a conversation with himself before he ran off. "And they call me crazy!" He mused to his own invisible friend as they continued their journey through the forest.
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This version of Much was as sure footed as the original and it wasn't long before Robin heard the sound of his friend stumbling to the ground with a loud cry. He turned around to see Much fumbling to his knees. "Come on," he scolded, still not believing he was interacting so with his fantasies.
"No!" the ghost waved with his hand as he brushed himself off. "I'll only slow you down." He grabbed his knee and looked up. "Hey, don't worry about me."
Robin leaned down and offered his hand, "Hey...Much. I like worrying you!" He tugged at his imaginary friend's arm. "Now come on! Come..." To his horror the image of his friend looked up at him longingly then dissolved before his eyes. He looked remorsefully at the spot where his friend vanished. "I liked worrying about you." He shook his head and broke into a run again.
It wasn't long before Much's voice returned. "Robin! This doesn't make any sense! There's no way the sheriff will find our camp!" Much reasoned loudly behind him.
"He knows, Much! Somehow he knows!"
"But what if you're wrong?" the ghost spat. "I mean look at the sun! We are running out of time! We should go to Nottingham, rescue Will and Marian and whoever else we can!"
"No, Much! The sheriff is heading for the camp and finding him is the only way we can save anyone. I have no time to stand here and argue with a figment of my imagination!" He turned and continued on toward camp. He was surprised when he stopped hearing the footfalls of the ghost behind him. He somehow knew the vision of his friend would not come back to haunt him again that afternoon.
Robin continued down the path to camp. Real or not, it was going to be a very long day without Much. The archer continued racing against the sun. He knew somehow, someway he would bring back the sheriff and save Nottingham. But he wondered as he ran, without Much or Marian by his side, who would save his soul.
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He stirred from the dream forgetting for a moment where he was. The sunlight, filtered through dense tree canopy, was replaced by ships timbers above his head.
Carter lay next to him in peaceful slumber. He turned in his sleep and his pale blond lashes fluttered open and he took in his squire's concerned expression. "What troubles my lover so late in the day?"
"I dreamed...about Sherwood... and Robin," Much pouted softly. "He said he asked Marian to marry him."
"Then it was a good dream," Carter supplied.
"It was a nightmare," Much responded shaking his head sadly. "The sheriff was missing and Prince John's man was threatening to torch Nottingham to the ground."
"Maybe you shouldn't have had the second helping of pickled pork at the captain's table," the knight chided.
"You jest but it was so real," the squire pondered as his friend held him.
"Go back to sleep, Much. Our turn at watch comes in a few hours." The crusader gently brought his lovers face to his own and kissed his pouting lips. He ran his fingers though Much's shorter hair and mused, "How did that get there?" He showed the squire the small leaf he found.
"Oh, that's odd," the former outlaw frowned. He held it up to the faint light, yawned, and placed the leaf next to him on the pillow. Before he drifted off back to slumberous adventures in the forest and the desert, Much looked at it and quietly muttered, "Good luck and God's speed, my friend."
Now for a little crows nest action! Chapter 17 awaits.
Come to Denial...where happy endings happen!